Australia's red ball squad is gearing up for a packed Test cricket schedule with 15 matches in just seven months. The upcoming series promises to be intense, with Australia set to face off against Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and England in a series of thrilling matches.
Australia's current two-Test home winter series against Bangladesh is taking place in Darwin and Mackay, with the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay set to become the country's 12th Test venue.
Following the Bangladesh series, Australia will tour South Africa and play three Test matches against the reigning ICC World Test Champions in October 2026. This will be the first time Australia has toured South Africa for a Test series since the infamous 'sandpaper gate' match of 2018.
The first Test match against South Africa is scheduled for 9-12 October 2026 at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. The second Test will take place at St. George's Park in Gqeberha from 18-22 October 2026, while the final Test will be played at Newlands in Cape Town from 27-31 October 2026.
The tour of South Africa will be followed by a four-Test home series against New Zealand, which will take place in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney between November 2026 and January 2027. All four Tests will be played as day matches, with no Test scheduled in Brisbane.
Australia's Test match schedule for 2026 is as follows:
- 13-17 August 2026: First Test against Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium in Darwin
- 22-26 August 2026: Second Test against Bangladesh at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay
- 9-12 October 2026: First Test against South Africa at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban
- 18-22 October 2026: Second Test against South Africa at St. George's Park in Gqeberha
- 27-31 October 2026: Third Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town
- 9-13 December 2026: First Test against New Zealand at Perth Stadium
- 17-21 December 2026: Second Test against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval
- 26-30 December 2026: Third Test against New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground
- 4-8 January 2027: Fourth Test against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground
Following the New Zealand home series, Australia will travel to India for a five-Test away series in January and February 2027 competing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They will then return to Australia for the one-off 150th Anniversary Test Match against England at the MCG from 11-15 March 2027 before heading to England for the Ashes Tour in June 2027.
Source: Yahoo Sports